Two dead as firefighters battle Colorado blaze

Wildfires spread across Colorado – Plumes of smoke rise above Del Norte Peak in Colorado on Sunday, June 23. Fires have been burning across Colorado since early June.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Smoke fills the sky as dawn breaks near South Fork, Colorado, on Saturday, June 22.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Colorado State Patrol Officer Jessie Bartunek speaks to a resident on the outskirts of South Fork on June 22.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Firefighters monitor a wildfire in a residential area in South Fork on Friday, June 21.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A photo taken by the Pike Interagency Hotshot Crew shows the West Fork Fire Complex, made up of the West Fork Fire and Windy Pass Fire, burning 15 miles north of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, on Thursday, June 20.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – The West Fork Fire Complex burns 15 miles north of Pagosa Springs, on June 20, as a fire crew truck is parked nearby.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Smoke from the West Fork Fire Complex consisting of the West Fork and Windy Pass fires fills the sky on June 20.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A mix of smoke and storm clouds gathers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Friday, June 14, three days after two major wildfires burned through the area. Rain has aided firefighters in containing the fires.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Bonnie Kruse hugs her husband, James Kruse, at a press conference in Colorado Springs on June 14.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa speaks during a press conference about the Black Forest fire on June 14 in Colorado Springs. County spokesman Dave Rose told CNN it appeared to be the most destructive in the history of Colorado.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – An orange sky highlights a fire on Thursday, June 13, that has been burning since June 11 near Colorado Springs.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – An aerial view on June 13 shows destroyed house and vehicles after the Black Forest Fire passed through Black Forest, Colorado.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A Blackhawk helicopter patrols over the Black Forest Fire on June 13.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A baseball game goes on despite a raging wildfire in Colorado on Wednesday, June 12.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A firefighter fights a blaze near Black Forest, Colorado, on Wednesday, June 12. The Black Forest Fire is one of two major wildfires near Colorado Springs. The other, the Royal Gorge Fire, is threatening the Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Smoke billows from the Black Forest Fire near a house north of Colorado Springs on June 12.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Smoke rises from the Black Forest Fire near Colorado Springs on June 12.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Smoke covers the area on June 12.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – High temperatures, dry brush and gusty winds are proving to be a catastrophic combination in central Colorado.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – An airplane drops flame retardant over the Black Forest Fire on June 12 near Colorado Springs.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Schad Dohl watches a wall of fire as it rages through the Black Forest near Colorado Springs on Wednesday, June 12.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A house burns late in the evening on Tuesday, June 11, northeast of Colorado Springs.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Firefighters from the Black Forest Fire Department race toward a burning home near Colorado Springs on June 11.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A house burns near Colorado Springs on June 11.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – El Paso County Sheriff's Deputy Dan Cukowski helps Linda Davies walk her livestock out from the evacuated area in Colorado Springs on June 11.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Andrew Dunlap and his father, Dave Dunlap, watch as a wildfire burns behind their house in Colorado Springs on June 11.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Motorists stop along Interquest Parkway in Colorado Springs on June 11 to watch the advance of a wildfire burning in the Black Forest.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – Lynd Fitzgerald sprays fire retardant around a house in Colorado Springs on June 11.

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Wildfires spread across Colorado – A wildfire burns in the Black Forest near Colorado Springs on June 11.

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Story highlights

The two victims may have been trying to evacuate

"If it's a draw, that's a victory today," sheriff says

The Black Forest Fire has scorched at least 15,700 acres

Some 360 homes are destroyed; 14 are damaged

Firefighters made little headway Thursday against a raging wildfire near Colorado Springs, Colorado, which has scorched close to 16,000 acres, destroyed 360 homes and claimed at least two lives.

Witnesses spoke to the two victims in the afternoon, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa told reporters.

"They said that they could see a glow to the west. They were packing their personal belongings, trying to get out," he said.

Earlier, county spokesman Dave Rose told CNN that the Black Forest Fire, burning northeast of the city, now appears to be the most destructive in terms of property lost in state history.

Wildfires scorch Colorado

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That marked a dramatic increase from the 8,500 acres officials said had been burned by Wednesday night, he noted.

After he spoke, residents of about 1,000 homes in Colorado Springs were told to evacuate.

"Wind is probably our No. 1 threat," the sheriff said. Combined with dry brush and high temperatures, the winds have fanned devastating flames.

Maketa struggled to find a phrase to describe how ferocious the fire is, settling on "very dynamic."

"If it's a draw, that's a victory today because we haven't had too many draws in the last couple of days," he said.

'The flames were there'

Among those who lost their home were husband and wife, Jaenette and Kristian Coyne.

"We literally had five minutes, and we left because it was, the flames were there," Jaenette Coyne told CNN's AC360 Thursday night.

She said she grabbed a baby album and a personal computer with pictures on it. She also took a firebox, which contained most of the couple's important documents.

The Coynes actually saw their home burn on live TV.

"It was probably the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. You have that moment where you say: 'Is that really my house?' But we know it was. However, now I'm grateful that I know. A lot of people here just don't know," Jaenette Coyne said.

A county fairground northeast of the Black Forest Fire looked like a Noah's Ark with families who fled with their animals to escape the looming inferno.

There were nearly 30 chickens, several hundred horses, a handful of cows and a couple calves, and many alpacas and miniature horses, according to the Elbert County Sheriff's Office. Assorted dogs, cats, goats and donkeys mingled with mules and llamas. Three stallions were there. And for good measure, one yak.

Weather fanning flames across Colorado

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At least eight families also have taken refuge at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa, the Denver Post reported, which is about 35 miles southeast of Denver.

Joanne Gaishin slept outside in her car after fleeing her home with 18 chickens and three turkeys. "I stayed in the front seat of my car with all of my fowl in there, with the roosters crowing in the morning," she told the paper.

Paula Warren, one of thousands of residents forced to flee her home northeast of Colorado Springs, spoke about how difficult it was to leave and wonder if her home was all right.

"I thought I had about an hour, and it turned out to be about 20 minutes," she said. "I had a pillowcase full of socks, and that's basically all I have."

By Thursday afternoon, she got bad news. A friend called her to say that her home was on an online list of residences that had been designated as destroyed. Warren didn't know exactly where the friend had seen the information but she believed it to be true.

For a person who had just been told their home was gone, Warren had a cheerful attitude when talking with CNN, laughing and saying that she was just going to go back home when she could, hitch up a trailer on the property, live in that and rebuild her house.

Her home sat on five acres and she doesn't think the land has been damaged. "Trees are still standing," she said.

For now she and her two miniature horses are staying with a friend on the outskirts of Colorado Springs.

The animals have adjusted fairly well, she said.

"You can't just take 'em to a Motel 6," she said. "And my friend is very tolerant."

Like Warren, CNN iReporter Mike Schultz lost his home. He sent images of it burned to the ground, showing charred remains.

His wife, Caml Schultz, said their family was able to save only some photographs, paperwork and few items of clothes.

"But we have each other, and we're blessed. So many people have suffered loss, and so we're just thankful that we're here and safe and that we're loved, and that we have so many people that are willing to help take care of us," she said.

Working to protect homes

Sheriff Maketa praised the swift and strong help that civilian workers have been getting from National Guard and other military responders. Authorities said that they are watching neighborhoods and homes to do everything they can to keep them safe while combating the blaze.

Still, there have been losses.

Maketa said Thursday that 360 homes had been destroyed; another 14 were damaged.

Rose, the El Paso County spokesman, stressed later that those figures were preliminary, and said he would expect them to increase.

"There are areas of the Black Forest that we have not been able to get into at all to make any sort of assessment. So it's almost impossible to come up with another number, but it is safe to assume that that number will in fact rise," he said.

Ken Litch, a 12-year resident of the area, watched Wednesday as the Black Forest Fire gained ground on his home. There wasn't much else he could do.